Method of optimizing the performance of a multi-unit power

Abstract

A method of optimizing the performance of a multi-unit power plant which produces both electrical and steam energy by determining the incremental efficiency of power boilers with various fuel inputs and thereafter determining the index of performance by taking into account cost factors and reallocating in the most optimum manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of optimizing the performance of a multi-unit power plant which produces steam energy from a plurality of different fuels where said steam energy used for independent purposes is a significant fraction of the total energy produced by said power plant and where input perturbations to the system affecting its performance cannot be directly and accurately measured said method comprising the following steps: determining by bump tests the read time incremental efficiency of the units of said power plant including the step of sensing a change in the steam energy output of said units in response to a change in fuel input; determining the incremental index of performance of each of said units by utilizing said incremental efficiency determination and the costs of said fuels; and reallocating the energy outputs of said units by changing the fuel inputs in accordance with said indices of performance. 
     
     
       2. A method as in claim 1 where said units include power boilers and in said bump test an incremental change in fuel input is made, the resulting change in output steam is measured, and the ratio is determined as a measure of incremental efficiency. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for optimizing the performance of a multi-unit power plant, wherein each of said units has an input energy and an output energy, said apparatus comprising: means for changing the amount of input energy of each unit; means for detecting the change of the amount of output energy in response to said change in the input energy of each unit; means for determining an incremental cost for each unit; and means for selecting the unit having the extreme incremental cost in response to a change in the output energy demand and correspondingly changing such unit's input energy. 
     
     
       4. A method of optimizing the performance of a multi-unit power plant, wherein each of said units has an input energy and an output energy, said method comprising: changing the amount of input energy of each unit; detecting the change in the amount of output energy in response to said change in the input energy of each unit; determining an incremental cost of each unit by dividing the cost of the change in input energy by the change in output energy; and selecting the unit with extreme incremental cost in response to a change in the output energy demand and correspondingly changing such unit's input energy.